Cardiothoracic Advanced Research Lab (CARL)
The Cardiothoracic Advanced Research Lab (CARL) at UC Davis is a dynamic, multidisciplinary research group dedicated to advancing the field of cardiothoracic imaging through innovative research, collaboration, and mentorship. With nearly 30 members, including medical students, CARL brings together a diverse array of perspectives and talents from across UC Davis. Our team is a collaboration of specialists from fields such as radiology, engineering, cardiology, and surgery, and both budding and seasoned investigators.
At the heart of CARL’s mission is a dual focus on conducting leading-edge research and cultivating the next generation of researchers. We are committed to exploring complex and impactful research topics within cardiothoracic imaging while leveraging the tremendous research strength of UC Davis. Through our efforts, we aim to contribute meaningful advancements to the field and cultivate a supportive space for learning and professional growth for the next generation of medical innovators.
Our lab is committed to advancing the imaging technologies and techniques that will improve the diagnosis, treatment, and management of cardiovascular and thoracic diseases, and through our collaborative efforts, bridge the gap between technological innovations and clinical applications.
Our lab is committed to advancing imaging techniques and technologies that will improve the diagnosis, treatment, and management of cardiovascular and thoracic diseases.
Select Publications
Morgan Casper, Misagh Piran, Ahmadreza Ghasemiesfe, Uma Srivatsa. (2025). Ventricular Tachycardia Due to His Bundle Scarring: A Complication of His-Bundle Pacing. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 85. 3203. 10.1016/S0735-1097(25)03687-3.
Clemens Mingels, Mohammad Madani, Fatma Sen, Hande Nalbant, Jonathan Riess, Yasser Abdelhafez, Ahmadreza Ghasemiesfe, Axel Rominger, Michele Guindani, Ramsey Badawi, Benjamin Spencer. (2025). Diagnostic Accuracy in NSCLC Lymph Node Staging with Total-Body and Conventional PET/CT. European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. 1-9. 10.1007/s00259-025-07177-3.
Andrew Faturos, Melinda Wong, Ahmadreza Ghasemiesfe, Ezra Amsterdam, Surabhi Atreja. (2024). Sociodemographic Disparities in Coronary Artery Calcium Screening. The American Journal of Medicine. 138. 10.1016/j.amjmed.2024.10.006.
Amanda Nguyen, Carter English, Ahmadreza Ghasemiesfe, Sandhya Venugopal. (2025). Caseous Mitral Annular Calcification and the Utility of Multimodality Cardiac Imaging: A Case Report. Annals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases. 4. 10.7326/aimcc.2024.1149.
Johannes Kirchner, Muhammed Gerçek, Hazem Omran, Kai Friedrichs, Felix Rudolph, Tobias Rossnagel, Misagh Piran, Arseniy Goncharov, Maria Ivannikova, Volker Rudolph, Tanja Rudolph. (2025). Predictive Value of CT-based and AI-reconstructed 3D-TAPSE in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Repair. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. 11. 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1463978.
Jade Tso, Carly Robinson, Ahmadreza Ghasemiesfe, Carter English, Saul Schaefer. (2025). Advanced Imaging in the Diagnosis of Cardiac Sarcoid and LV Noncompaction. JACC: Case Reports. 30. 103241. 10.1016/j.jaccas.2025.103241.
Ahmed Deniwar, Mohammad Alnoor, Ahmadreza Ghasemiesfe, Frank Ing, Timothy Pirolli, Ralf Holzer. (2024). PDA Stent Placement *6: High-Impact Limitations of Angiography to Delineate a Complex PDA. Pediatric Cardiology. 46. 736-739. 10.1007/s00246-024-03527-4.
Jan Eckstein, Hermann Körperich, Oliver Weber, Wolfgang Burchert, Volodymyr Pugachov, Oleksandra Demydiuk, Misagh Piran. (2024). Assessment of CMR Feature-Tracking Age- and Sex-Dependent Right Ventricular Strain in a Healthy Caucasian Cohort. Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research. 18. 146-157. 10.1007/s12265-024-10557-z.
Johannes Kirchner, Muhammed Gerçek, Johannes Gesch, Hazem Omran, Kai Friedrichs, Felix Rudolph, Maria Ivannikova, Tobias Rossnagel, Misagh Piran, Roman Pfister, Philipp Blanke, Volker Rudolph, Tanja Rudolph. (2024). Artificial Intelligence-Analyzed Computed Tomography in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Repair. International Journal of Cardiology. 411. 132233. 10.1016/j.ijcard.2024.132233.
Rayan Cheaban, Misagh Piran, Dragan Opacic, Jan Gummert, Sebastian Rojas. (2024). Epicardial Cavernous Haemangioma; A Case Report of a Unique Incidental Finding. European Heart Journal - Case Reports. 8. 10.1093/ehjcr/ytae146.
Negin Moghadasi, Misagh Piran, Rupa Valdez, Stephen Baek, Negar Moghaddasi, Thomas Polmateer, James Lambert. (2024). Process Quality Assurance of Artificial Intelligence in Medical Diagnosis. 1-8. 10.1109/ISCV60512.2024.10620154.
Drew Faturos, Melinda Wong, Edward Chau, Ahmadreza Ghasemiesfe, Ezra Amsterdam, Surabhi Atreja. (2024). Socioeconomic Disparity in Coronary Artery Calcium Screening. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 83. 1752. 10.1016/S0735-1097(24)03742-2.
Johannes Kirchner, Johannes Gesch, Muhammed Gercek, Misagh Piran, Kai Friedrichs, Roman Pfister, Felix Rudolph, Max Potratz, Arsenyi Goncharov, Maria Ivannikova, Volker Rudolph, Tanja Rudolph. (2024). Analysis of Tricuspid Annulus Dimensions and RCA-Proximity with Artificial Intelligence-Based Software for Procedural Planning of Percutaneous Tricuspid Annuloplasty. Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. 18. 10.1016/j.jcct.2024.01.005.
Negin Moghadasi, Misagh Piran, Rupa Valdez, Negar Moghaddasi, Davis Loose, Thomas Polmateer, James Lambert. (2024). Systems Modeling of Trust in AI-Enabled Medical Diagnosis. 1-8. 10.1109/SysCon61195.2024.10553620.
Rayan Cheaban, Misagh Piran, Dragan Opacic, Jan Gummert, Sebastian Rojas. (2024). Epicardial Cavernous Haemangioma; A Case Report of a Unique Incidental Finding. European Heart Journal - Case Reports. 8. 10.1093/ehjcr/ytae146.
Negin Moghadasi, Rupa Valdez, Misagh Piran, Negar Moghaddasi, Thomas Polmateer, Davis Loose, James Lambert. (2024). Risk Analysis of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine with a Multilayer Concept of System Order. Systems. 12. 47. 10.3390/systems12020047.
Lilly Cirener, Hermann Körperich, Peter Barth, Anca Racolta, Misagh Piran, Wolfgang Burchert, Oliver Weber, Jan Eckstein. (2024). Assessing Diastolic Function Using CMR as an Alternative to Echocardiography: Age- and Gender-Related Normal Reference Values. Clinical Research in Cardiology. 1-17. 10.1007/s00392-024-02553-9.
Jonathan Chung, Lydia Chelala, Janelle Pugashetti, Jennifer Wang, Ayodeji Adegunsoye, Alexander Matyga, Lauren Keith, Kai Ludwig, Sahar Zafari, Sahand Ghodrati, Ahmadreza Ghasemiesfe, Henry Guo, Eleanor Soo, Stephen Lyen, Charles Sayer, Justin Oldham. (2023). A Deep Learning Based Radiomic Classifier for Usual Interstitial Pneumonia. Chest. 165. 10.1016/j.chest.2023.10.012.
Denise Guckel, Misagh Piran, Leonard Bergau, Mustapha Hamriti, Thomas Fink, Vanessa Sciacca, Jan‐Christian Reil, Martin Braun, Moneeb Khalaph, Guram Imnadze, Katharina Kramer, Sarah Friedrich, Jasmin Rühl, Hermann Körperich, Philipp Sommer, Christian Sohns. (2023). The Individual Relationship Between Atrial Fibrillation Sources from CARTOFINDER Mapping and Atrial Cardiomyopathy: The Catch Me if You Can Trial. Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology. 46. 10.1111/pace.14847.
Jacob Priester, Samuel Simister, Matthew Sario, Justin Choi, Dagoberto Pina, Raminta Theriault, Cyrus Bateni, Ahmadreza Ghasemiesfe, Janai Carr‐Ascher, Maryam Arta, Robert Canter, R. Lor Randall, Steven Thorpe. (2023). Scrutinizing the Use of Contrasted Chest CTs in Extremity Sarcoma Staging and Surveillance. Journal of Surgical Oncology. 129. 10.1002/jso.27510.
Hermann Körperich, Jan Eckstein, Medhat Atito, Peter Barth, Kai Thorsten Laser, Wolfgang Burchert, Oliver Weber, Christian Stehning, Misagh Piran. Assessment of Pulmonary Artery Stiffness by Multiparametric Cardiac Magnetic Resonance-Surrogate for Right Heart Catheterization. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. 10, Aug 2023; DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1200833.
Jan Eckstein, Negin Moghadasi, Hermann Körperich, Rehsan Akkuzu, Vanessa Sciacca, Christian Sohns, Philipp Sommer, Julian Berg, Jerzy Paluszkiewicz, Wolfgang Burchert, Misagh Piran. Machine-Learning-Based Diagnostics of Cardiac Sarcoidosis Using Multi-Chamber Wall Motion Analyses. Diagnostics (Basel). Jul 2023; 13(14): 2426, DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13142426.
Muhammed Gerçek, Johannes Kirchner, Johannes Gesch, Kai Friedrichs, Hazem Omran, Tobias Rossnagel, Misagh Piran, Volker Rudolph, Tanja Rudolph. Predictive Value of Right Ventricular Geometry and Function Evaluated in AI-Computed Tomography in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Repair. European Heart Journal. 44. 10.1093/eurheartj/ehad655.137.
Muhammed Gerçek, Fabian Roder, Kai P. Friedrichs, Maria Ivannikova, Arseniy Goncharov, Vera Fortmeier, Jan Eckstein, Hermann Körperich, Andreas Peterschröder, Wolfgang Burchert, Volker Rudolph, Tanja K. Rudolph, Misagh Piran. Right Heart Remodeling Assessed by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Following Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Annuloplasty. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. Jun 2023; 16(6): 862-863, DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2022.12.014.
Dominik Sellung, Lorena Heil, Nassam Daya, Frank Jacobsen, Janine Mertens-Rill, Heidi Zhuge, Kristina Döring, Misagh Piran, Hendrik Milting, Andreas Unger, Wolfgang Linke, Rudi Kley, Corinna Preusse, Andreas Roos, Dieter Fürst, Peter van der Ven, Matthias Vorgerd. Novel Filamin C Myofibrillar Myopathy Variants Cause Different Pathomechanisms and Alterations in Protein Quality Systems. Cells. May 2023; 12(9): 1321, DOI: 10.3390/cells12091321.
Vanessa Sciacca, Thomas Fink, Hermann Körperich, Leonard Bergau, Denise Guckel, Flemming Nischik, Jan Eckstein, Martin Braun, Mustapha El Hamriti, Guram Imnadze, Misagh Piran, Philipp Sommer, Christian Sohns. Magnetic Resonance Assessment of Left Atrial Scar Formation Following a Novel Very High-Power Short-Duration Workflow for Atrial Fibrillation Ablation. Europace. Apr 2023; 25(4): 1392-1399, DOI: 10.1093/europace/euac284.
Christopher Lan, Mohammad Madani, Anjali Pawar, Nardo Lorenzo, Ahmadreza Ghasemiesfe. (2023). Ferumoxytol-Enhanced MR Venography for Diagnosis of Venous Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Radiology Case Reports. 18. 2378-2380. 10.1016/j.radcr.2023.03.052.
Nina Liu, Ahmadreza Ghasemiesfe, Fatma Sen, Edris Aman, Ezra Amsterdam, Sandhya Venugopal. (2023). A 49-Year-Old Woman With Exertional Dyspnea and Dizziness. Chest. 163. e157-e162. 10.1016/j.chest.2022.10.040.
Misagh Piran. (2023). Magnetic Resonance Assessment of Left Atrial Scar Formation Following a Novel Very High-Power Short Duration Workflow for Atrial Fibrillation Ablation. Europace. 25. 10.1093/europace/euac284.
Roshni Khatiwala, Bashaer Gheyath, Ahmadreza Ghasemiesfe, Nayereh Pezeshkian. (2023). Uncovering the Hornet's Nest: Pre-Ablation Cardiac Computed Tomography. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 81. 3797. 10.1016/S0735-1097(23)04241-9.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing and redefining the overall landscape of medical imaging: from automating complex tasks and accelerating clinical workflows to enhancing diagnostic accuracy. At CARL, our research seeks to push the boundaries of what AI can achieve through collaboration with experts in radiology, data science, clinical practice, and departments across UC Davis.
By integrating AI into advanced imaging modalities such as MRI and CT, we aim to improve the early detection of cardiovascular and thoracic diseases, reduce diagnostic variability, and contribute to more personalized and effective patient care. As AI continues to reshape medical imaging, our research aims to bridge technological innovation with clinical application—empowering healthcare professionals with powerful tools to deliver faster, more accurate diagnoses, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
Director
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Misagh Piran, M.D., F.S.C.M.R.Assistant Professor |
Scientist and Physician Team
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Ahmadreza Ghasemiesfe, M.D., F.S.C.M.R.Associate Professor |
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Sarah E. McKenney, Ph.D., D.A.B.R.Associate Professor |
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Hyungseok Jang, Ph.D.Associate Professor |
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Andrew Hernandez, Ph.D.Assistant Professor |
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Shotaro Naganawa, M.D., Ph.D.Assistant Professor |
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Quinn Kwan-Tai Ng, M.D., Ph.D.Assistant Professor of Clinical Radiology |
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Ana Sophia Alicia Mitchell, M.D.Assistant Professor |
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Vivek SwarnakarResearch Specialist |
Post Doctoral Scholars
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Mehrad Rokni, M.D.Department of Radiology |
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Xiaoguang Zhu, Ph.D.
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Residents and Medical Students
- Cesar Carreon
Medical Student, UC Davis School of Medicine
- Morgan Casper, M.D.
Resident, Department of Internal Medicine - Josephine Joy Du
Medical Student, UC Davis School of Medicine - Nicholas Tyler Fong
Medical Student, UC Davis School of Medicine - Sofiya Ghazaryan
Medical Student, UC Davis School of Medicine - Kamhung (Victor) Lam
Medical Student, UC Davis School of Medicine - Lyanne Ding Lu
Medical Student, UC Davis School of Medicine - Norayr Mkrtchyan
Medical Student, UC Davis School of Medicine - Stephanie Reshma Warrior
Medical Student, UC Davis School of Medicine
CARL is not only a research hub but a vibrant community of scholars, encompassing a diverse range of interests. Whether you are a young researcher or medical student eager to learn or an experienced investigator looking to contribute to impactful projects, CARL offers a community to connect, innovate, and make a difference.
We are consistently active, hosting regular weekly meetings, welcoming expert guest speakers, and participating in a broad range of scientific activities.
For more information and to connect, please contact us at Sandra Irene Salas at siserna@ucdavis.edu or Misagh Piran at mipiran@ucdavis.edu.